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College of Health Sciences and Public Policy:
Doctor of Public Administration (DPA)

The DPA program is designed to prepare students to engage in and address the problems and challenges associated with the administration of public and nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and the world. Through their coursework, students explore the practice of public administration, management, and applied research in a global context, thereby enabling them to gain expertise in solving the complex problems that public organizations encounter. Graduates with a DPA degree are positioned for career opportunities in applied research, management, leadership, and the administration of public and nonprofit organizations; they can also pursue careers in consultancy with organizations that contract with public entities.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) program, students will be able to:

  1. Evaluate effective leadership/management principles (including theory, concepts, and practices) utilized in the public sector.
  2. Evaluate solutions to practical problems in public administration using evidence-based practices and research.
  3. Apply ethical concepts of public administration within organizations.
  4. Apply culturally sensitive public administration research to meet the needs of diverse populations at local, state, national, and international levels of government.
  5. Utilize analytic methods in making decisions related to public administration that contribute to positive social change.
  6. Engage in scientific inquiry to advance practice in the field of public administration.

Minimum Degree Requirements

  • Foundations course (3 credits)
  • Core courses (40 credits)
  • Research courses (10 credits)
  • Doctoral Capstone (5 credits) 

Curriculum

Foundation Course (3 credits)

Core Courses (35 credits)

Research Courses (10 credits)

Doctoral Capstone

Course Sequence

The recommended course sequence is as follows:

Quarter Course Credits
Quarter 1 DDPA 8003 - Foundations in Doctoral Studies  3 credits

DDPA 8810 - Law and Public Policy

 5 credits
Quarter 2 DDPA 8112 - Governance and Public Policy 5 credits
DDPA 8212 - Technology in Public Administration 5 credits
Quarter 3 DDPA 8390 - Strategic Context of Public Management and Leadership  5 credits
DPA 8218 - Research Methods in Public Administration 5 credits
Quarter 4 DDPA 8382 - Public Policy and Finance 5 credits
DDPA 8220 - Transformative Practices in Public Administration 5 credits
Quarter 5 DDPA 8111 - Leadership and Organizational Change 5 credits
DDPA 8350 - Project Management in Public Administration 5 credits
Quarter 6 DDPA 8510 - Grant Writing and Management   5 credits
Quarter 7 DDPA 8900 - Capstone: Professional Integration and Leadership Development    5 credits

Learn more about the capstone portfolio process in the Doctoral Capstone Guidebook.

Doctoral Writing Assessment

Students who start or readmit to doctoral programs at Walden University in the university catalog for academic year 2017 or later will complete the university’s required doctoral writing assessment. Designed to evaluate incoming doctoral students’ writing skills, this assessment aims to help prepare incoming doctoral students to meet the university’s expectations for writing at the doctoral level.

Doctoral Writing Assessment

Students who start or readmit to doctoral programs at Walden University in the university catalog for academic year 2017 or later will complete the university’s required doctoral writing assessment. Designed to evaluate incoming doctoral students’ writing skills, this assessment aims to help prepare incoming doctoral students to meet the university’s expectations for writing at the doctoral level.

8-Year Maximum Time Frame

Students have up to 8 years to complete their doctoral degree requirements (see Enrollment Requirements in the student handbook). Students may petition to extend the 8-year maximum time frame, but an extension is not guaranteed.